Stratton VA nurse faces drug-tampering charges

Nathan Baum stole narcotic for his own use, replaced it with another drug, officials said

By Paul Grondahl

Updated 4:14 pm, Saturday, October 3, 2015

Albany

A hospice nurse at the Stratton VA Medical Center was indicted by a federal grand jury for stealing a narcotic from syringes and replacing it with an anti-psychotic medication in an attempt to conceal the thefts, according to court papers.

Nathan Baum, a licensed practical nurse, was charged in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York on counts of tampering with a consumer product and obtaining a controlled substance by deception and subterfuge, federal prosecutors.

Baum, who had worked at the VA for two years, until 2014, allegedly stole oxycodone hydrochloride, a highly addictive narcotic analgesic, for his own use and replaced the drug in syringes with Haldol, an anti-psychotic medication used to treat mental health disorders.

The indictment charged that Baum tampered with 25 syringes of the drug kept in locked containers between April and May in 2014.

"We utilize strong internal quality controls that help us identify those individuals who fail to meet our mission and appreciate the support of law enforcement and justice partners in upholding and enforcing our standards," Stratton VA Medical Center officials said in a statement that reiterated its "zero tolerance" policy for such activity. Peter Potter, a Stratton VA spokesman, said he could not comment further on the indictment.

In newspaper obituaries published by families of veterans, Baum was singled out for praise for his outstanding patient care in the hospice unit.